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Abigail Kwarteng, a Ghanaian athlete based in the United States (US), is determined to participate in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. After completing her studies at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where she obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health, Kwarteng has set her sights on representing Ghana in the high jump event at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Reflecting on her time at MTSU, Kwarteng acknowledged that she realized the Olympics were her genuine aspiration during her academic journey there. With her record as the women’s national record holder in the long jump, Kwarteng understands that competing in the Olympics is the ultimate dream for every athlete, and she is fully dedicated to qualifying for this prestigious global sporting event.
At the age of 26, Kwarteng arrived at MTSU with an impressive track record and wealth of experience, having previously competed in American collegiate athletics for Western Texas College and national and international high jump championships. Guided by her coach, Andrew Owusu, a public health professor at MTSU and a three-time Olympian for Ghana, Kwarteng continued to excel, finishing 2022 as the second-ranked high jumper in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the 26th-ranked high jumper globally.
“My coach helped me recognize my potential and pushed me to aim beyond college competition,” Kwarteng shared. “He asked, ‘What are we doing here?’ and encouraged me to strive for the highest level. I decided not to end my athletic career until I reached the Olympics.”
With no immediate academic commitments, Kwarteng dedicates at least two hours a day to training to achieve her goal for Paris 2024. Her training regimen includes running activities such as sled pulling, running the Floyd Stadium stairs, high jump practice twice a week, and working on the technical aspects of jumping. She has previously represented Ghana in various competitions, including the 2016 African Championship in Durban, the 2018 African Championship in Asaba, the 2019 African Games in Rabat, the 2022 World Athletics Championship in Oregon, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Kwarteng expressed her trust in her experienced Ghanaian coach, who first recognized her immense potential during a competition in Ghana back in 2016. Professor Owusu also played a pivotal role in Kwarteng’s transfer from Western Texas College to MTSU, which benefitted her athletic and academic progress.
Professor Owusu believes the supportive and nurturing environment provided by MTSU was ideal for Kwarteng’s development. He emphasized that the university offered professors, coaches, and a community of friends who were personally invested in helping her succeed both on and off the field. Owusu’s upbeat assessment of the MTSU environment attributes much of Kwarteng’s growth and achievement to the university’s support system.
In April of the previous year, Kwarteng broke the women’s high jump national record by clearing a height of 1.92m, setting a new personal best, and winning the War Eagle Invitational in Auburn, Alabama. Completing her graduate program holds tremendous significance for Kwarteng, who hails from Bekwai in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
“I am doing this for my family,” she expressed, highlighting that her parents are farmers living thousands of miles away in Ghana and never received an education. Kwarteng’s father had even been granted a scholarship for high school, but the lack of financial means prevented him from attending. Walking across the stage to receive her Master’s degree is a significant accomplishment for her.
Now armed with her degree, Kwarteng intends to continue.
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Source: Omanghana.com
